Humidifier



Oct. 26, 1937.

L. KRESSER 2,097,195

HUMIDIFIER Filed Jan. 12, 19374 2 Sheets-Sheet l I I I INVENTOR. I60 716195367 ATTORNEY.

L. KRESSER HUMIDI FIER Filed Jan. 12, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Isa Wrasse? BY Q zf @1 41 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNHE e-TENT orrica Claims.

This invention relates to humidifying apparatus, and more particularly to portable apparatus for regulating the moisture content of the atmosphere in homes or in connection with in- 5 dustrial applications which employ materials or processes requiring a definite range of atmospheric humidity for best results. The textile and printing industries are examples of the foregoing.

An object of this invention is to provide novel and improved humidifying apparatus which is more efficient in operation and certain in performance.

Another object is to provide a humidifier which is more attractive in appearance and convenient in use.

Another object is to provide a humidifier which is more silent in operation.

Still another object is to provide a humidifier which embodies novel and improved means for vaporizing water.

A further object is to provide a humidifier in which the discharge of water vapor may be varied over wide limits inaccordance with demand.

Other objects and advantages will in part be specifically stated and in part be obvious when the following specification is read in connection with the drawings, in which:

30 Fig. 1 is a view in vertical section of the improved humidifier; Fig. 2 is a cut-away view of the interior of the humidifier;

Fig, 3 is a top plan view of the humidifier as seen with the cover removed; Fig. 4 shows the rotary air compressor and a fragmentary portion of the motor in vertical section; Fig. 5 shows an end view of the compressor with the cover plate removed; and Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged detail views showing the separator which removes oil vapor from the output of the air compressor.

Referring in more detail to Fig. 1, the reference letter K indicates a cabinet which forms a housing for the component parts of the apparatus. At the bottom of the cabinet is a filter chamber F which contains any suitable filtering materials. The chamber has a perforated bottom I which leaves a large area for the'passage of air, but which will retain the filtering material 2. The chamber F has on two sides extensions 4 which fit slidably into guides 5 which are attached to the bottom part of the cabinet. In the cabinet is mounted on suitable cross members 6, an electric motor M which carries on one side a blower B, and on the other side a rotary air compressor C. The blower consists of a multivane wheel I which is mounted on an extension of the motor shaft, and a housing 8 which encloses the wheel. The housing is suitably attached by means of a member 9 to the motor supports 6, and has an opening ii) at the top for the dischargev of the air. The air inlet of the blower is adjacent the wheel i, as best seen in Fig. 2. Below the housing is a water tank W, supported by cross members 52, which are fastened to the cabinet. Any surplus water accumulating in the blower housing 8 is drained back to the tank through an opening M in the lower part of the blower housing. In the blower housing 8 on the discharge side is attached an atomizer i5 which consists of two nozzles. Nozzle N is vertically positioned and is connected by means of tube 116 to a supply of compressed air which is shown as compressor C. The air issuing from nozzle N strikes a nozzle N which has a horizontal or slightly inclined position. This nozzle is connected by means of tube I! to the lower part of the water tank W. The nozzle N is secured to the atomizer i5 by a threaded connection, and its position is adjustable. In axial alignment with the nozzle N is a tube T which confines the mist of water leavingthe atomizer l5 and directs it upwardly. The lower end l8 of tube T is cut at a bias and the strong air flow from the blower B passes upwardly'through the tube and entrains the water mist.

The rotary air compressor is mounted on the electric motor as shown in Fig. 4. It consists of a compressor block l9 which is fitted onto the endplate 20 of the motor. The shaft 2| carries a rotor 22 which has a number of slots in which blades 23 move freely. The compressor block i9 is mounted eccentrically with the shaft 2| and a crescent shaped space is left between the rotor and the block. This space is partitioned by the blades 23 and when the rotor turns, air is drawn in through openings 24, 24', and 24". This air is compressed and discharged through opening 25 in the compressor block. In the discharge opening 25, a number of circular baiiie plates 26, shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, are mounted and have slots spaced around their circumference. The plates are set on a stem 21 and are separated by washers 30. The slots of the respective plates are arranged in staggered relation and the air passing through the separator is forced to take a tortuous course, and the oil vapors which are suspended in the air are condensed upon the baille plates. Clean air is discharged through opening 28 (Fig. 5) and a tube I6 is there connected which leads to the atomizer [5, as best seen in Fig. 2. The oil which is deposited upon the baffle plates 26 is drained through outlet 29 and a tube 3| (Fig. 2) to an oil tank 0, which contains a supply of lubricating oil for the compressor, and which is secured to the cabinet K in any suitable manner, as by straps. A tube 32 (Fig. 1) leads from the bottom of the oil tank to a connection 33 of the motor endplate (Fig. 4) and an inside duct 34 leads the oil to the bearing and to the compressor blades 23. A humidostat H is mounted in the cabinet in a location such that it is always surrounded by dry air flowing through the cabinet, and automatically controls the motor circuit in accordance with the moisture content of the atmosphere. The housing 8 of the blower B may have a double wall and the space between the walls is preferably filled with suitable sound-absorbing material.

In the operation'oi the'apparatus, the blower B draws air through the filter chamber F and the filter material retains all dust, lint and like impurities suspended in the air. The blower moves the air through the blower housing 8 and discharges it through the outlet iii. A part of this air passes upwardly through tube T. At the same time, the compressor C draws air through openings 24, 24' and 24" and discharges it under pressure through the baflle plates of the oil separator in the outlet opening 25. The air flows through outlet 28 and tube l6 (Fig. 2) to the nozzle N 01' the atomizer. At the same time, lubricating oil will be supplied to the compressor by the air pressure communicated through tubeto the tank 0. The velocity of the air at the nozzle N is very high and whenit passes the opening of nozzle N, a vacuum is created therein which draws water through tube I! from the water tank W. The water at the nozzle N is broken up into a fine mist by the impact of the air stream issuing from the nozzle N The mist enters tube T and is carried upwardly by the stream of air from the blower. At the exhaust end III, the mist issues concentrically with the dry air stream from the blower housing 8. The dry air mixes withthe mist, completely evaporating it, and the moisture is introduced into the room atmosphere with no expelled droplets to be deposited on nearby articles. As the moisturecontent of the room atmosphere is raised, the relative humidity eventually reaches the desired a value, and the moisture sensitive element in the 1. In a humidifier, a source of water, an air compressor, a fan blower, means for driving said compressor and said fan, an air passage having a discharge outlet and extending from said fan to said outlet, a water discharge nozzle positioned in said passage, means for directing a jet of compressed air from said compressor across the end of said water nozzle, and a tubular conduit positioned within said passage in alignment with said jet of compressed air for directing atomized water to said outlet.

2. In a humidifier, a source of w ter, an air compressor, a fan slower, means for driving said compressor and said fan, an air passage having a discharge outlet and extending from said fan to said outlet, means including a jet of' compressed air from said compressor for atomizing water within said passage, and a conduit positioned within said passage to receive said atomized water and conduct it to said discharge outlet, said conduit having the inner' end thereof shaped to receive air from said blower.

3. In a humidifier, a source of water, an air compressor, a fan blower, a single means for driving said compressor and said Ian, an air passage having a discharge outlet and extending from said fan to said outlet, means including a compressed air jet from said compressor for atomizing water within said passage, and a conduit positioned within said. passage to jointly receive said atomized water and a portion of the air issuing from said blower, said conduit extending from an intermediate portion of said passage to said discharge outlet.

4. In a humidifier, a source of water, an air compressor, a tan blower, a single means for driving said compressor and said fan, a spiral air passage having a discharge outlet and extending from said fan to said outlet, means including a compressed air jet from said compressor for atomizing water within said passage, and a conduit positioned within saidpassage and extending from said discharge outlet to a point adjacent said atomizing means, the inner end of said conduit being shaped to jointly receive atomized water and a portion of the air delivered by said fan.

5. In a humidifier, a source of water, an air compressor, a tan blower, a single means for drivsage, and a conduit vertically positioned within said passage and extending from said discharge outlet to a point adjacent said atomizing means, the lower end of said conduit being cut on a bias, whereby air from said fan will assist in directing atomized water into said conduit.

LEO. 

